Letter home, Letter from Elizabeth at Syracuse University–Sept 24, 1920

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[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]

ELLIS ISLAND JAM HALTS IMMIGRATION

No More Aliens to be Taken Off Ships Until Congestion Is Relieved. THOUSANDS IN NEAR RIOT Relatives Break Iron Gate in Rush to Get to Arrivals— Move to Stop Passports

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Friday night

Dear mother,

It was just a great of you to send all the good things. We just jumped for them hard. The cake is wonderful and the asters look just “swell”. Hope you will keep on writing the way you have so far. I just have to have mail. The Sophs here in the hall have been initiating us and it was lots of fun.

I absolutely can't write tonight. I've torn up one letter for you already, and now I've got to go to bed.

ELIZABETH BRIGGS AND FRIENDS

I'm president of the freshman here in the hall, and formal pledging was tonight. If anyone wants to know how I like it, tell them fine. I'll send my invitation thing home. Keep it in a safe place as I want it for my stunt book. I ought not to have written tonight, but I thought maybe you would think something was the matter with me if I didn't pretty soon. I'm just getting the effects of the rush is all.

Lots of love,

Elizabeth.

Is Frank digging in? I'll expect him to be running off with a scholarship or something.

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Editor's notes

This week, the next pile of cards and letters is from the girls in the family. 14 year old Louise is visiting family friends near Rochester, Elizabeth has started classes at Syracuse University and Marion appears to have started her first job–teaching school in Millville, New Jersey. Several letters from both Marion and Elizabeth were found together in one envelope. The letters aren't dated. They were written from before Labor Day until the 24th when they were mailed.